Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is considering arguments in the appeals of the 2011 redrawing of state House and Senate districts.

Most of the complaints find fault with the number of counties, municipalities, and wards that are broken up by district boundaries under the new plan.

Justice Michal Eakin asked for some clarity about how exactly the Legislative Reapportionment Commission counts splits.

“Just trying to do the math, here,” Eakin began, “We’re saying it’s ‘X’ number of splits, and how many does that count for?”

“Well, a county can be put into three senatorial districts, but that’s one split.  That’s the way this court has always counted it,” said Joseph Del Sole, representing the LRC.

Del Sole argued that since the state Supreme Court has upheld past redistricting plans, which split more municipalities and wards than the 2011 plan, the court can’t very well rule the maps are unconstitutional this time around.

The final 2011 redistricting plan divides 14 fewer municipalities and 12 fewer wards than past plans.

Lawyers for the redistricting appellants said weeks ago they knew it would be an uphill battle to try to get the latest round of redrawing deemed unconstitutional. Del Sole argued that no redistricting plan has been rejected by the state Supreme Court since 1970, when the redistricting-by-commission method was put in place.

“This court is being asked to reject 40 years of prior jurisprudence in order to sustain the appeal,” said Del Sole.

“Isn’t it really only four years?” Chief Justice Ron Castille said, cutting in. “Since we deal with this once every 10 years?”

“It is – it is, Justice,” said Del Sole, to scattered laughter in the courtroom, “but 40 years sounds a lot better, from a historical standpoint.”

When oral arguments finished, it was Castille who said the justices would make haste to decide on the appeals.

Time is of the essence. Tuesday is the first day candidates running for political office in the new districts can circulate petitions for their nomination.

The oral arguments were televised live, marking the first time that’s happened for a substantive state Supreme Court session.